)(Posted 30th August 2026)
Uganda Airlines Acting Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake has revealed that the airline’s plan to move to a cheaper aircraft leasing arrangement by November now partly depends on whether Uganda Civil Aviation Authority can train its inspectors and complete the required certification in time.
The airline currently operates a Boeing 737 under a wetlease ACMI arrangement under which aircraft, crew, insurance and maintenance are supplied together by Ethiopian Airlines .
Wake told the parliamentary committee that Uganda Airlines wants to move to a cheaper model where it provides more of these services itself but Uganda’s regulator UCAA must first be ready to oversee that aircraft type.
“Training of Uganda Civil Aviation inspectors will have to take place before we get an aeroplane. Training of our own people will also have to take place.”
Wake disclosed that Boeing is providing that training to both the airline and the regulator under Uganda Airlines’ aircraft purchase agreement. “It has already started. Hopefully it will be ready by November.
Watch the YouTube features below of how Girma Wake and former CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki answer the questions of the parliamentary committee on the challenges he encountered when coming on board as Acting CRO of Uganda Airlines:
